Mexico - Red meat consumption is forecast to decline in 2009

Red meat consumption is forecast to decline in 2009 as middle and lower income consumers are expected to replace consumption of red meat for cheaper processed meat and other protein sources. Despite the reduction in consumption, 2009 red meat production is not expected to decline dramatically. However, 2009 red meat imports from the U.S. are forecast to decline in large part to the fall in the value of the peso relative to the U.S. dollar.